The Heart's Choice

Jewels of Kalispell, Book 1

By: Tracie Peterson, Kimberly Woodhouse

Narrated by: Pilar Witherspoon

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

After witnessing a wrongful conviction as a young girl, Rebecca Whitman—the first female court reporter in Montana—is now determined to defend the innocent. During a murder trial, something doesn't sit well with her about the case, but no one except the handsome new Carnegie librarian will listen to her.

Librarian Mark Andrews's father sent him to college hoping he would take over the business side of the family ranch, but Mark would rather wrangle books than cows. When a patron seeks help with research in hopes of proving a man's innocence, Mark is immediately drawn to her and her cause.

In a race against time, will Rebecca and Mark find the evidence they need—and open their hearts to love—before it's too late?

©2022 Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse (P)2022 Recorded Books

The mic picked up on the reader's gulping

It was a cute story, predictable which is what I was looking for. The one thing that I couldn't get past was the reader. Her voices for the characters were great, but the microphone caught every time she swallowed/gulped. As a person who has a hard time with sounds like that, it was very jarring amd uncomfortable. If you have misophonia, I would not recommend this one. I would have stopped listening if I wasn't interested enough in the story.

Genuine characters and love of inquiry

Not enough plot twists but love feisty Rebecca. The women in the book are great role models for women!

faith

encouraging acts of kindness, faithfulness in their love for each other, trusting God for enerthing.

My Musings

It took me a while to warm up to the heroine. I loved Mark, his dad, and the judge. His wife is a hoot. A mostly satisfied reader and listener!

Loved the audiobook version!

Mystery, romance, and a darling little dog named Sir. Theophilus! I thoroughly enjoyed The Heart’s Choice. I was first pulled in by the gorgeous cover and then when I saw it was by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse, I had to read it. Set in beautiful Kalispell, Montana at the turn of the century, a librarian and court stenographer work together to solve a murder mystery and find friendship, love, and faith along the way.

Mark Andrews is not the typical early 20th century man. His father allowed him to go to college expecting he’d come back and work on his successful ranch. Instead, he’s returning home to accept the position as the town’s first librarian. He loves the smell of books, and delights in the written word. He knows his sister and her husband are fully capable of running the ranch, but when his ailing father becomes even more ill, he questions if he’s made the right choice.

Rebecca McCutcheon witnessed a terrible crime as a child which left a lasting impression and a desire to seek justice. She’s leaving her family in Chicago to take a job in Montana as the first female court stenographer for Judge Ashbury. To assuage her parents’ misgivings, she promises not to fall for the first guy she meets despite the fact that the first man she meets is Mark Andrews and every booklover’s dream. When a horrible murder occurs and the man they accuse is an unlikely suspect, Mark and Rebecca work together to try to prove the man’s innocence and find the real killer.

Absolutely loved the slow burn, friends to lovers romance! Neither Rebecca nor Mark are looking for love. With a little help from the delightful Judge Ashbury, his wife Marvella, and their cute little dog Theophilus, Mark and Rebecca frequently find themselves in each other’s company. As they find mutual support and understanding, their easy friendship grows to more.

I enjoyed the way Mark and Rebecca worked together to solve the mystery. Rebecca is a strong character and both she and Mark broke the stereotypical barriers in their professions. They support each other’s dreams and goals and believe in each other. I loved the way Mark took all of Rebecca’s concerns seriously and fed her mystery loving heart with good books. I also enjoyed Rebecca’s faith journey and how Mark helped nurture her fledgling faith.

The audiobook version is fantastic! I enjoyed the narrator and the way she voiced all the characters. It was easy to listen to and I found it was hard to put down.

The mystery was well done and leads to a suspenseful, nail-biting conclusion! Highly recommend to Christian historical fiction, mystery, and romance fans! Looking forward to the next book in the series. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher, but also purchased the audiobook version. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

Great Book!

Another great captivating story by Tracie Peterson. I have listened to many of her books and highly recommend this book.

Charming Romance with Captivating Mystery

Bravo! Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse have teamed up again to create a wonderful inspirational romance. I always enjoy their added plots of fun and adventure. This time the suspense was heightened by an intriguing murder mystery and the heroine’s determination to see the true villain captured. Pilar Witherspoon’s narration is excellent. The Heart’s Choice is both entertaining and a beautiful portrayal of God’s love. Thank you! 🙏

Faith walk of so many characters

The good story the author shares with each book giving a feel for the area and the need for faith in God.

Great story

Mystery, love, adventure and strong women characters!! It’s got it all! Definitely worth your time!

Faith and murder mystery

I liked the characters although a couple of the plot twists were predictable. I appreciated the clear presentation of the Gospel and the Bible. I could hear the page turning a few times.